Man Gets Life In Prison In Detroit Officer's Death
DETROIT (WWJ/AP)- A Detroit man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Detroit Police Officer Brian Huff at a vacant eastside duplex one year ago.
Jason Gibson, 26, was sentenced, Thursday, to a mandatory term of life in prison with no chance of parole by Wayne County Circuit Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway.
Thursday, Melissa Huff sobbed and shook her head in disbelief when Gibson failed to apologize.
"Mr. Gibson killed a fabulous man, a great man, a great officer, a great human being who loved everybody. Everybody loved him," she said.
"If he would be able to walk through the door and say one word to this young man it could have made a difference."
Following an 18-day trial in March, a jury found Gibson guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, murder of a peace officer and felony murder in the ambush-style slaying of Huff, 42, on May 3rd of last year.
DNA and ballistics tied Gibson to the shooting.
Gibson also was convicted of assault, resisting arrest and drug charges in the case.
Huff, his partner and several other officers responded to a 911 call about lights shining in the duplex. Huff announced "police'', kicked door, and was then shot twice — through his jaw and in the side of his head — by 45-caliber bullets.
Brian Glover, Huff's friend and fellow officer, was there when Huff was shot in the line of duty.
Huff's 11-year-old son, Blair, told Gibson he didn't understand "why you had to kill my dad. He was a nice man."
Four other officers were also shot or injured.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
